Abstract
This article presents a qualitative case study of efforts to initiate, implement, and continue a school district crisis intervention policy. As viewed by a participant observer, a description of the change environment and barriers to this school change effort are presented. Policy developer actions and other factors that helped to overcome barriers are discussed. Among the important lessons learned was that a truly necessary school change (such as a crisis intervention policy) will eventually come to be viewed as essential by the school community. Planners should anticipate this and be prepared to respond quickly when the time is right.